The John Spradling Piano Studio will soon resume in-person lessons, and there are openings for new students! Call or message right away for information. This photo is of my dearest studio dog, Mack, with his own cookie while participants at a home studio recital all had theirs. I took the shot at the close of a studio recital a number of years ago.
Virtually all of my lessons are given on the Baldwin L at First Baptist Church in Manlius. After almost 30 years at the church, the action of the faithful Baldwin has been removed for a complete regulation. In the photo you can see cables and wires in place for making videos of services during the pandemic. Since the sanctuary has been empty, what better time than now to bring the Baldwin back to new life? We have contracted Bob Lee to do the work.
I recently gave a ninth grade student a lesson on the Beethoven "Waldstein" Sonata, and found myself crying with delight. Believe me, we have come up through the ranks with Haydn, Mozart, and other Beethoven. This student has a set of fingers, so we have done Op. 31, No. 1. All that was very competently done, and his Concerto No. 3 was played with orchestra. This Waldstein, however, is another thing altogether. It is a full 152 Allegro con brio, and he is exulting in Beethoven's pure athletic ability to express simple, profound ideas with muscular, subtle, and sleek delight. You may think the Waldstein is not a piece to evoke such emotion, but I assure you such things are possible. We are now attacking the Rondo, and I divulged to him the secret words to the main theme--necessary to correct interpretation: "Was macht die Sau im Garten?"
Many people have heard of Vladimir Horowitz, whose reputation still grows since his death in 1989. Most have not heard his piano rolls, made in an age when acoustic recording was experimental. These are incredible performances.
YOUTUBE.COM
Vladimir Horowitz - twelve piano rolls c. 1928
Spring Piano Studio Recitals that had been scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2020, have been cancelled, and will not be rescheduled. The next Piano Studio recitals will be Saturday, October 17, 2020. See my events for more information.
John Spradling
March 15 at 7:55 PM ·
Today, Sunday, March 15, a fine student thanked me for continuing to give piano lessons in the face of the mass hysteria taking place. Am I deaf to all the screaming about the virus? No. Am I in denial that there is a pandemic? No. I do not watch television, and have not for decades. I do not listen to news announcers, because they no longer offer objective coverage. I read, study, pray, and discuss issues with friends, and form my own opinions. I find no reason to stop piano lessons at this time, and want to do my part in creating a down-to-earth, calm and reasonable environment. I have not been called upon to create policy for a group of people, a company, or a nation, but to meet one-on-one with students. I am still open for business.
Today, Sunday, March 15, a fine student thanked me for continuing to give piano lessons in the face of the mass hysteria taking place. Am I deaf to all the screaming about the virus? No. Am I in denial that there is a pandemic? No. I do not watch television, and have not for decades. I do not listen to news announcers, because they no longer offer objective coverage. I read, study, pray, and discuss issues with friends, and form my own opinions. I find no reason to stop piano lessons at this time, and want to do my part in creating a down-to-earth, calm and reasonable environment. I have not been called upon to create policy for a group of people, a company, or a nation, but to meet one-on-one with students. I am still open for business.
My studio is open as it has been since 1997 in Central New York. I never stopped teaching for any reason in 2020.
I want to congratulate my outstanding student WINNERS in the ONNY Competition, just concluded at Potsdam, NY. Alex Wu won FIRST PLACE, playing the Beethoven Emperor, and Victoria Huffman won SECOND PLACE playing Mozart No. 17 in G Major.
